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NCT Number: NCT06657014

Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training to Alleviate Social Anxiety in Children

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of Mind-Mindedness (MM) training for caregivers as an early intervention for preschool-aged children (4 to 7 years) exhibiting signs of social anxiety. The study posits that enhancing caregivers' ability to recognize and respond to their children's thoughts, feelings, and intentions-termed Mind-Mindedness-can foster secure attachments and improve socioemotional outcomes for children.

A total of 100 primary caregivers will be recruited from the United Kingdom and Iran, with participants randomly assigned to either an MM training intervention group or a peer support control group. The MM training will consist of three online sessions, each lasting one hour, focusing on strategies for implementing mind-minded comments and enhancing emotional understanding. The peer support group will provide caregivers with an online platform for sharing experiences related to their child's anxiety without receiving structured training.

Assessments of Mind-Mindedness, child social anxiety, attachment, and theory of mind will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and three months after the intervention using validated measures. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MM training in reducing social anxiety symptoms in children while examining the potential mediating roles of attachment and theory of mind in this relationship.

By incorporating a cross-cultural approach, this research will contribute to understanding the influence of cultural contexts on the effectiveness of caregiver interventions. The anticipated findings could establish MM training as a valuable strategy for mitigating social anxiety in preschoolers and inform future clinical practices aimed at enhancing caregiver-child interactions.

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Key information

Conditions

Social Anxiety Disorder of Childhood

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

This study aims to explore a new approach to support preschool children (ages 4 to 7) who struggle with social anxiety. The investigators believe that when caregivers, such as parents, understand and respond more effectively to their child's feelings and thoughts, it can help the child feel more secure and less anxious in social situations.

To test this idea, the investigators are inviting 100 caregivers from the UK and Iran to participate in our research. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups: one group will receive special training called Mind-Mindedness training, which consists of three online sessions designed to teach caregivers techniques for better understanding their child's emotions. The other group will participate in a peer support group where participants can share experiences with other caregivers, this group will not receive the training.

The investigators will assess the children's social anxiety before the training, immediately after it, and three months later to determine if the training has a positive impact. This study aims to demonstrate how enhancing caregiver awareness of their child's feelings can reduce anxiety and help children interact more confidently with others.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Primary Caregiver Status: Participants must be the primary caregiver of a child aged 4 to 7 years.

Age of Caregiver: Caregivers must be between 18 and 60 years old. Geographical Location: Caregivers must reside in either the United Kingdom or Iran.

Social Anxiety Symptoms: Children must exhibit observable signs of social anxiety, which will be confirmed through a standardized screening tool.

Exclusion criteria

  • Clinical Diagnosis: Children with a clinical diagnosis of another psychiatric disorder (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, ADHD) will be excluded.

Concurrent Support: Caregivers of children who are currently receiving any other form of psychological support or treatment for social anxiety will be excluded.

Treatment and study plan

mind-mindedness

Other

The Mind-Mindedness Training Intervention is a structured program designed specifically for primary caregivers of preschool-aged children (ages 4 to 7) who exhibit signs of social anxiety. This intervention is unique because it focuses on enhancing caregivers' understanding and responsiveness to their children's emotional and mental states through the concept of mind-mindedness.

Primary outcomes

  1. Child Social Anxiety Levels

    Time frame: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up

    Primary Outcome Measure

    Description: This measure will assess changes in social anxiety symptoms in preschool-aged children (4 to 7 years) as reported by caregivers, using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS), the parent versions. The SCAS scores range from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 114. Higher scores on the SCAS indicate worse outcomes, reflecting higher levels of anxiety.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Mind-Mindedness of Caregivers

    Time frame: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

    The assessment of mind-mindedness in caregivers will be conducted using the Mind-Mindedness Coding Manual(Meins, 2015). It evaluates caregivers' ability to understand and respond to their child's mental and emotional states. Scores on this scale typically range from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating better outcomes, reflecting a greater level of mind-mindedness. A higher score signifies that the caregiver is more attuned to their child's emotional needs, which is associated with positive developmental outcomes for the child.

Other outcomes

  1. Attachment Security of Children

    Time frame: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

    The assessment of attachment in caregivers will be conducted using the Attachment Insecurity Screening Inventory (AISI), developed by Spruit et al. (2018), allowing the evaluation of any changes in attachment security resulting from the intervention. This scale has a scoring range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes and greater attachment insecurity. Therefore, a higher score suggests that the caregiver exhibits more insecure attachment behaviours.

  2. Theory of Mind Development in Children

    Time frame: Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

    The Theory of Mind Task Battery (Hutchins et al., 2012) will be utilized to assess children's understanding of others' mental states, an important factor in social interactions and emotional regulation. Scores on this battery typically range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better outcomes. A higher score reflects a greater ability for the child to understand and interpret the mental states of others, which is crucial for social interactions and emotional development.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Daniel Hale Hale, Asst. Prof.

CONTACT

[email protected]

07456927219

Hiva Javadian Javadian, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

07456927219

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Heriot-Watt University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Caregiver Mind-Mindedness Training as an Early Intervention for Reducing Social Anxiety in Preschool-Aged Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: CAMPS

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Oct 24, 2024
Registry last updated
Oct 24, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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